Means for cleaning out the bore of guns.



No. 782,701.. PATENTED FEB. 14, 1905.

' F.-L. SAWYER. I

MEANS FOR CLEANING OUT THE BORE OF GUNS.

AIPLIOATION FILED MAY 26. 1904.

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F. L. SAWYER.

MEANS FOR CLEANING OUT THE BORE 0F GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1904.

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r www I W GH WHQHS I UNITED STATES Patented February 14, 1905 FREDERICK L. SAWYER, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN J. KNAPP, TRUSTEE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MEANS FOR CLEANING OUT THE BORE OF GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,701, dated February 14, 1905.

Application filed May 26, 1904. Serial No. 209,951.

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. SAWYER, a lieutenant in the United States Navy, stationed on board the United States steamship Nwdc, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Cleaning Out the Bore of Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My lnvention relates to improvements in apparatus for cleaning out the chamber and bore of guns after firing.

The objects of the invention are mainly, first, to add security to loading after firing each round; second, to save time in the operation of safe loading; third, to prevent the issue of smoke, flame, residue, or gases of combustion through the breech of the gun.

In the apparatus hereinafter described compressed air is blown through the gun from an air-flask or other suitable source of supply of compressed air, and this air is admitted before the breech-plug is out of the screw-box,

and it is preferably blown into the bore of the gun from a plurality of jets set tangentially to the axis of the bore, so as to give a vortical direction to the air-blast, and this vortical direction preferably follows the rifling, so that the bore may be more effectually cleaned out.

In addition to this air-blast just referred to water in the form of a spray may be admitted, and this spray apparatus may be operated by turning on the air, as will be hereinafter described.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a rear view of the breech of a gun fitted with the well-known Welin breechplug. Fig. 2 is a section on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of air and wa- .ter pipes. Fig. 4 shows the air-pipe let into the breech of the gun. Fig. 5 shows a modification in which the air is blown into the blanks between the screw-threads. Fig. 6 shows a section, on an enlarged scale, along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 7 shows a section, on an enlarged scale, along the broken line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

A represents the body of the gun, which is provided with a suitable screw-box A for the breechplug B. While I have shown this breech-plug as of the Welin type, my invention is equally applicable to the ordinary slotted screw-plug or any of the three-motion guns in which there is first a motion to unlock, then a longitudinal motion rearward, and then a swinging motion imparted to the breech-plug in order to open the bore. Moreover, the invention might with slight modifications be adapted for use with Krupp or other type of guns.

C represents the gas-check, which is shown as of the DeBange type, while 1) represents the mushroom. This gas-check C seats on the cylindrical surface at in rear of the slope a of the powder-chamber and terminates at the edge (0 (See Fig. 2.)

E represents an air-pipe which is connected by the feed-pipe E to any suitable source of air-supply. (Not shown.) This pipe E would preferably be connected by any suitable flexible connection at or near the point of the gun where there is least vertical motionfor instance, at or near the trunnions. A flexible hose would form a suitable connection; but any suitable connection may be used. The pipe E is normally cut off from the pipe E by means of the valve E controlled by the valvestem F, having the toe f, which toe projects in rear of a suitable trip Gr, pivoted, as at g, to the breech-plug when the plug is in the unlocked position.

The pipe E may be connected by suitable openings 0 to the ducts a (see Figs. 1 and 2) p in the breech of the gun, which ducts preferably open into the blanks of the screw-box and are preferably set at such an angle that a line through their axis would clear the angular edge (f. (See Fig. 2.) Moreover, these ducts a are preferably set tangential to a small imaginary circle, (indicated in dotted lines at a in Fig. 1,) so that the inrushing air may be given a vertical motion.

Compressed air alone may be used to blow out the powder-chamber and bore of the gun, a into the powder-chamber and will be pressed or it may be combined with water-sprays that will now be described.

E represents a small air-pipe leading out from the'air-pipe E and controlled by the valve 6 which air-pipe opens into the top of the water-tank I, which is preferably suspended beneath the gun in any convenient way, or it may be connected thereto by a flexible hose.

H represents a water-pipe which opens at its lower end into the water-tank I, as shown at H. The water-supply may be cut off, if desired, by means of the valve It. From this water-pipe H spray-pipes h project into the ducts (t In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the pipe H and spray-pipes h mounted exterior to the pipe E.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the pipe E flattened on one side to fit snugly against the breech of the gun, and the water-pipe H is mounted therein, and it is shown as provided with two spraymozzles h and it".

In Fig. 4: I have shown the pipe E inserted in a recess in the breech of the gun with its rear face flush with the rear face of the gun and with the water-pipe H mounted inside of the air-pipe. This form might be used to apply to guns already built and would not interfere with the mechanism projecting from the breech of the gun. In the form of device shown in Fig. 3 compactness of the parts is secured and very little space is taken up in rear of the gun.

The air and water pipes may be carried all the way around the gun through three hundred and sixty degrees or only partly around through any desired angle, and the number of duets a" may be increased or decreased at will.

In the form of device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the air-jets (3 lead from the pipe E into the blanks of the gun between the screw-threads. N o water-sprays are shown in these figures; but these sprays may be added, if desired.

The operation of the device is as follows: Suppose the breech closed and the plug in the locked position and suppose also it be desired to use compressed air only without the waterspray, in which case the valve it should be closed and the valve 0 should preferably be closed. The first motion of the breech mechanism (which, being of the well-known type operated by the hand-crank K, 'I have not deemed it necessary to describe) will cause the breech-plug to rotate through a small angle to the left to the unlocked position shown in Fig. 1. This will cause the trip G to pass in front of the toef, as indicated in dotted lines at g" in Fig. 7. Now the further motion of the handcrank K will move the breech-plug rearward until the trip G will strike the toe f, rocking the valve-stem F and opening the valve The trip Gr is so arranged relative to the toe f that the valve will open just as the edge (Z of the mushroom clears the edge a of the gun, and air will be blown through all the ducts a or forward in the bore of the gun in a vertical direction following the rifiing. This air will carry along with it any gases, cinders, un burned powder, or other loose matter in the bore of the gun and will deliver same out through tne muzzle.

In closing the breech it will be seen that the trip (3- will strike the toe f, as indicated in Fig. '7, tipping the trip back against the aetion of the coil-spring g on the pivot y until the rotation of the breech-plug allows the trip G to pass clear of the toe f, when the spring y will restore the trip G to the initial position, (shown at g.)

If it be desired to combine the water-spray with the air-jets, the-valves it and a" should be opened, the valve E being closed and the parts being in the position indicated in Fig. 1. Now the first motion of unlocking the breech will turn the trip G in the position to engage the toe f when the breech-plug is moved rearward a suflicient distance. As soon as the valve E is opened the air from the pipe IE will rush into the duct a", as already described. A small part of the air will pass through the pipe E and pass the valve (1" and will enter the top of the water-tank Iand pressing on the water will force the latter up into the pipe H and past the valve 7/ into the pipe H, from which it will escape by the spraypipes 71,. The air-blast through the inlets a will act as an atomizer, separating the water into a line spray, which will be carried along with the air and will spray out the gun.

It will be seen that when theair alone is used it will expand after leaving the pipe E and will become cool, thus in a measure chilling the bore of the gun, while this cooling effect will be further increased when the waterspray is combined with the air-jets.

After the breech has been opened sulficiently for the gun servant to determine whether the bore is clear the valve E may be closed by hand or in any suitable way.

It will also be evident that the trip G and toe f may be omitted and that the valve E may be operated entirely by hand, if desired.

I have shown the invention as embodied in a specific form of apparatus; but I do not mean to confine its use to such specific form, for the same result might be obtained by widely varying the arrangement of the various parts, and

I claim, broadly, as my invention- 1. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, withaplurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box exterior to the breechplug, a valve normally controlling the admission of air .to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and means carried by the gun for opening said valve, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-duets leading from said pipe into the screw-box excontrolling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and automatic means operated by the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box, a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying com pressed air to said valve, and a valve-stem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem, and a trip carried by the breechplug and adapted to strike said toe and open said valve when the breech-plug is partially withdrawn, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box, in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and means carried by the gun for opening said valve, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and automatic means operated by the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, substantially as described.

6. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and a valve-stem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem, and a trip carried by the breech-plug and adapted to strike said toe and open said valve when the breech-plug is partially withdrawn, substantially as described.

7. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-duct leading from said pipe into the screw-box exterior to the breech-plug, of a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and means carried by the gun for opening said valve, substantially as described.

8. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-duct leading from said pipe into the screw-box exterior to the breech-plug, of a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and automatic means operated by the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, substantially as described.

9. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-ductleading from said pipe into the screw-box, of a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and a valve-stem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem. and a trip carried by the breech-plug and adapted to strike said toe and open said valve when the breech-plug is partially withdrawn, substantially as described.

10. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-duct leading from said pipe into the scre w-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun so as to give a vortical motion to the escaping air, of a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and means carried by the gun for opening said valve, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-ductleading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun so as to give a vortical motion to the escaping air, of a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve,and automatic means operated by the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, substantially as described.

12. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-duct leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun so as to give a vortical motion to the escaping air, of a valve normally controlling the admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and a valvestem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem, and a trip carried by the breech-plug and adapted to strike said toe and open said valve when the breech-plug ispartially withdrawn, sub' stantiall y as described.

13. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-duct leading from said pipe into the screw-box, of a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and means for opening said valve, a source of water-supply, a water-pipe leading therefrom and carried by the breech of the gun, and a spray-pipe from said water-pipe opening into said air-duct, substantially as described.

14. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech otthe gun, and an air-duct leading from said pipe into the screw-box, 0t avalve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and automatic means operated by ITO the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, a source of \vatcr-supply, a water-pipe leading therefrom and carried by the breech of the gun, and a spray-pipe from said water-pipe opening into said air-duct, substantially as described.

15. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-d uct leading from said pipe into the screw-box, of a valve normally controlling admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and a valve-stem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem, and a trip carried by the breech-plug and adapted to strike said toe and open said valve when the 'breechplug is partially Withdrawn, a source of water-supply, a water-pipe leading therefrom and carried by the breech of the gun, and a spray-pipe from said water-pipe opening into said air-duct, substantially as described.

16. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an ai r-duct leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric With the bore of the gun so as to give a vortical motion to the escaping air, of a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and means for opening said valve, a source of water-supply, a water-pipe leading therefrom and carried by the breech of the gun, and a spray-pipe from said Water-pipe opening into said air-duct, substantially as described.

17. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-duct leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun so as to give a vortical motion to the escaping air, of a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and automatic means operated by the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, a source of water-supply, a waterpipe leading therefrom and carried by the breech of the gun, and a spray-pipe from said water-pipe opening into said air-duct, substantially as described.

18. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, and an air-d uct leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun so as to give a vertical motion to the escaping air, of a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and a valve-stem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem, and a trip carried by the breech-plugand adapted to strike said toe and open said valve when the breech-plug is partially withdrawn, at source of Water-supply, a water-pipe leading therefrom and carried by the breech of the gun, and a spraypipe from said water-pipe opening into said air-duct, substantially as described.

19. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box, in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, of a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, a water-spray opening into each of said airducts, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and means for opening said valve, substantially as described.

20. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, of a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, a water-spray opening into each of said airducts, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and automatic means operated by the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, substantially as described.

21. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, of a valve normally controlling admission of air to said pipe, at water-spray opening into each of said air-ducts, means for supplying compressed air to said valve,and a valve-stem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem, and a trip carried by the breech-plug and adapted to strike said toe and open said valve When the breech-plug is partially Withdrawn, substantially as described.

22. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box, a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for su pplying com pressed air to said valve, and means for opening said valve, of a water-pipe also at the breech of the gun, and spray-pipes leading from said waterpipe into said air-ducts, substantially as described.

23. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box, and a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and automatic means operated by the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, of a water-pipe also at the breech of the gun, and s 'n'ay-pipes leading from said water-pipe into said air-ducts, substantially as described.

24. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box, and a valve normally controlling admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and a valve-stem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem, and a trip carried by the breechplug and adapted to strike said toe and open said valve when the breech-plug is partially withdrawn, of a water-pipe also at the breech of the gun, and spray-pipes leading from said water-pipe into said air-ducts, substantially as described.

25. Thecombination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box, in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, and a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for supplying compressed .air to said valve, and means for opening said valve, of a water-pipe also at the breech of the gun, and spray-pipes leading from said water-pipe into said air-ducts, substantially as described.

26. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, and a valve normally controlling admission of air to the said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and automatic means operated by the rearward motion of the breech-block for opening said valve, of a water-pipe also at the breech of the gun, and spray-pipes leading from said water-pipe into said air-ducts, substantially as described.

27. The combination with an air-pipe at the breech of the gun, with a plurality of air-ducts leading from said pipe into the screw-box in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, a valve normally controlling admission of air to said pipe, means for supplying compressed air to said valve, and a valve-stem connected to said valve, a toe carried by said valve-stem, and a trip carried by the breech-plug and adapted to strike said toe and open said valve when the breech-plug is partially withdrawn, of a water-pipe also at the breech of the gun, and spray-pipes leading from said water-pipe intosaid air-ducts, substantially as described.

28. Means attached to the gun for cleaning out the bore thereof after firing, comprising a plurality of air and water jets with separate supplies of air and water for said jets, with means for controlling said jets, substantially as described. I

29. Means for cleaning out the bore of a gun after firing comprising a plurality of air and water jets, with means automatically operated by the partial opening of the breech mechanism for controlling same, substantially as described.

30. Means carried by the gun for cleaning out the bore of the gun after firing comprising a plurality of air and water jets entering the breech in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, with means for controlling same, and separate supplies of air and water for said jets, substantially as described.

31. Means for cleaning out the bore of a gun after firing comprising a plurality of air and water jets entering the breech in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, with means automatically operated by the partial opening of the breech mechanism for controlling same, substantially as described.

32. Means attached to the gun for cleaning out the bore thereof, comprising one or more air-jets passing through the breech of the gun and entering the bore of the same in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, and means carried by the gun for controlling said jets, substantially as described.

33. Means for cleaning out the bore of a gun after firing comprising a plurality of airjets entering the bore of the gun in a direction tangential to a cylinder concentric with the bore of the gun, with means automatically operated by the partial opening of the breech mechanism for controlling same, substantially as described.

34. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the gun and removable breech block therefor, of the supply for cleaning medium, nozzle for directing the cleaning medium into the breech of the gun, a valve for said supply opened by the opening movement of the breech-block and a yielding connection for permitting the breech-block to be closed without moving the valve; substantially as described.

35. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the gun, the removable breechblock having a gas-check at its forward end and a supply for cleaning medium under pressure, of a nozzle opening into the breechchamber in rear of the gas-check for the admission of cleaning medium and a valve controlling the admission of said medium, substantially as described.

36. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the gun, the removable breechblock having a gas-check at its forward end and a supply for cleaning medium under pressure, of a plurality of nozzles opening into the breech-chamber in rear of the gas-check and in the space around the breech-block, and a valve controlling the admission of the cleaning medium, substantially as described.

37. In breech-loading ordnance, a supply for cleaning medium and a valve controlling such supply, and means whereby said valve is automatically opened by the opening of the breech, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK L. SAVVYER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE 'I. MELVIN, JAS. M. WALKER. 

